About Ian Williams

Ian Williams (born 1970 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.
Biography:
Williams grew up in Pennsylvania and spent part of his childhood in Malawi, before returning to the US in the 6th grade.
Musical career:
In his teenage years Williams was drummer and vocalist for Pittsburgh-based band 'Sludgehammer'.
Williams joined Pittsburgh math rock pioneers Don Caballero as a second guitarist in 1992 until 2000. He had also played in the Chicago-based, avant-garde band Storm & Stress from 1997 to 2000. Williams moved to New York City in the early 2000s and formed Battles in 2002.
Williams is well known for his approach to finger tapping on guitar and uses Gibson's Echoplex looping system. His propensity towards guitar tapping allows him to accompany himself on keyboard at live performances, using one hand for each instrument.
Williams made a short cameo appearance in the 2000 movie High Fidelity as a customer in the music store (shortly after John Cusack's character announces, "I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s by The Beta Band."). He also had small cameos in Heaven's a Drag and Bloodmoon, a 1997 martial arts action film.
Ian Williams is an alumnus of University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.
Setup:
(Battles: 2004 - 2010):
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Studio,
Keyboards
M-Audio ProKeys Sono 88,
Software
Native Instruments Kontakt 4,
Computers
Apple Mac,
Rack Mount Units
Gibson Echoplex - w/Footswitch,
Amplifiers
Roland JC-120,
Ampeg SVT Head,
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet,
(Battles: 2011 - Present):
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul,
Gibson SG,
Keyboards
M-Audio Axiom 61 - X 2,
Software
Native Instruments Kontakt 5,
Ableton Live 8,
Mainstage (Software),
Computers
Apple Mac - X 2,
Apogee Duet,
RME Fireface,
Amplifiers
Roland JC-120,
Ampeg SVT Head - X 2,
Ampeg 6x12 Cabinet,
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet

Ian Williams (born 1970 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles. Biography: Williams grew up in Pennsylvania and spent part of his childhood in Malawi, before returning to the US in the 6th grade. Musical career: In his teenage years Williams was drummer and vocalist for Pittsburgh-based band 'Sludgehammer'. Williams joined Pittsburgh math rock pioneers Don Caballero as a second guitarist in 1992 until 2000. He had also played in the Chicago-based, avant-garde band Storm & Stress from 1997 to 2000. Williams moved to New York City in the early 2000s and formed Battles in 2002. Williams is well known for his approach to finger tapping on guitar and uses Gibson's Echoplex looping system. His propensity towards guitar tapping allows him to accompany himself on keyboard at live performances, using one hand for each instrument. Williams made a short cameo appearance in the 2000 movie High Fidelity as a customer in the music store (shortly after John Cusack's character announces, "I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s by The Beta Band."). He also had small cameos in Heaven's a Drag and Bloodmoon, a 1997 martial arts action film. Ian Williams is an alumnus of University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. Setup: (Battles: 2004 - 2010): Guitars Gibson Les Paul Studio, Keyboards M-Audio ProKeys Sono 88, Software Native Instruments Kontakt 4, Computers Apple Mac, Rack Mount Units Gibson Echoplex - w/Footswitch, Amplifiers Roland JC-120, Ampeg SVT Head, Marshall 4x12 Cabinet, (Battles: 2011 - Present): Guitars Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, Keyboards M-Audio Axiom 61 - X 2, Software Native Instruments Kontakt 5, Ableton Live 8, Mainstage (Software), Computers Apple Mac - X 2, Apogee Duet, RME Fireface, Amplifiers Roland JC-120, Ampeg SVT Head - X 2, Ampeg 6x12 Cabinet, Marshall 4x12 CabinetSource: WikipediaText from this biography licensed under creative commons license